Patient-centred outcome measures for oncological surgery: a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Surgical Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Demographic shifts show an ageing UK population, leading to increased cancer incidence and frailty.
• Older cancer patients often experience poorer outcomes, including higher mortality and postoperative complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature on peri-operative medicine for frail cancer patients.
• To identify appropriate outcome measures for assessing best clinical practice in cancer care.
• To emphasize patient-centred care strategies.

Main Methods:

• A targeted literature review was conducted from June 10-17, 2024.
• Search terms included 'surgical oncology', 'outcomes', 'frailty', 'quality of life', and 'end of life'.
• Core themes were identified and synthesized into a narrative review.

Main Results:

• Traditional outcome measures (e.g., 30-day mortality) are insufficient for frail cancer patients.
• Patient quality of life and treatment burden are critical outcomes.
• Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable but have limitations.
• Comprehensive geriatric assessment improves patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

• There is a need to prioritize quality-of-life and patient-reported outcome measures alongside mortality.
• Holistic care approaches are essential for measuring outcomes beyond survival.
• Integrating geriatric assessment can enhance patient-centred cancer care.